Chapter 103

Chapter 103

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Chapter 103

Jin Gui Brings About Her Own Downfall Through a Poisonous Scheme;

Yu-cun, Blind to True Enlightenment, Meets an Old Acquaintance

Jia Lian went over to Lady Wang and told her everything in detail. The next day he went to the ministry and settled the matter. On his return he went to Lady Wang again and informed her how he had dealt with the Board of Civil Office.

"Have you found out for certain?" said Lady Wang. "If that is really so, His Lordship will be glad and the whole family can rest easy. An appointment outside the capital is not something to be desired at all! If he hadn't been impeached and brought back like that, those scoundrels might well have plotted to bring His Lordship to his grave!"

"How could you know that, madam?" said Jia Lian.

"Since your uncle took up that post outside the capital, not a single penny has he sent home; instead, he has drained a good deal from the family coffers. Just think of the men who went with His Lordhip — before their husbands had been away a few months, their concubines began dressing themselves up in gold and silver. Were they not making money out of his lordship's absence? Your uncle just let them carry on as they liked. If any scandal should break, not only would he lose his own post, but he might well forfeit the rank his ancestors won too."

"You are quite right, aunt," said Jia Lian. "When I first heard of the impeachment I was frightened out of my wits. I didn't feel easy until I had made inquiries. We would rather His Lordship served in the capital and lived in comfort for a few years, so as to safeguard his reputation for a lifetime. Even if the old lady found out, she would be reassured — so long as you break it to her gently."

"I understand. You had better go and make further inquiries."

Jia Lian assented and was just about to leave when in came an old serving-woman from Aunt Xue's house. She rushed in, all in a flurry, to Lady Wang's inner room and, without even greeting her, announced, "Our mistress has sent me to tell the mistress here that something dreadful has happened in our family. Another scandal has broken out."

"What scandal?" asked Lady Wang.

"It's terrible, terrible!" the old woman went on.

Lady Wang snorted, "Fool! If you have something important to say, say it!"

"Our young master is not at home and there isn't a single man in the house. What are we to do about this? I've come to beg you to send some young gentlemen to help us out."

Lady Wang could not make head or tail of this and demanded impatiently, "What exactly do you want the young gentlemen to do?"

"Our young mistress is dead!"

Lady Wang spat in disgust. "A woman like that — let her die! Why make such a fuss about it?"

"She didn't die a natural death. She died in a crazy fit. Please, madam, send someone quickly to arrange things." So saying, the old woman made as if to leave.

Half angry and half amused, Lady Wang said, "What a stupid old woman! Lian, you had better go and see about it. Pay no attention to this foolish creature."

The old woman, who heard no mention of anyone being sent, only heard Lady Wang telling Jia Lian to pay no attention, went off in a huff. By now Aunt Xue was in a state of great anxiety. She had been waiting a long time, and when at last she saw the old woman return she asked eagerly, "Who has the mistress sent?"

The old woman sighed. "A person in trouble has no better use for fine relatives or dear connections. The mistress not only refused to help us, she called me a fool as well."

Aunt Xue was both angry and anxious. "If the mistress won't help, what did your young mistress say?"

"If the mistress won't help, our young mistress naturally won't either. I didn't go to tell her."

Lady Wang spat. "The mistress is an outsider, but the girl is my own daughter. How can she not help?"

The old woman suddenly saw the point. "So she is. I'll go back and tell her."

Just then they saw Jia Lian come in. He paid his respects to Aunt Xue, offered his condolences, and said, "My aunt heard that Sister-in-law had died. She asked the old women about it, but they couldn't explain clearly, and she was very anxious. She sent me to find out exactly what happened and told me to stay here and help manage things. Whatever needs to be done, Aunt, just say the word and I'll see to it."

Aunt Xue had been crying dry tears from anger, but hearing Jia Lian's words, she smiled and said, "I'm putting you to a lot of trouble, Second Master. I always said the Grand Lady treated us best. It was this old fool who couldn't explain things properly and nearly made a mess of everything. Please sit down, Second Master, and let me tell you everything slowly." She then said, "It's not about anything else—it's that my daughter-in-law didn't die a natural death."

Jia Lian said, "I suppose she killed herself out of despair over her brother's troubles?"

Aunt Xue said, "If only it were that. A few months ago, she used to rave and carry on every day, with her hair wild and her feet bare. Later, when she heard your cousin had been sentenced to death, she did cry for a while, but after that she started painting her face and powdering herself again. If I said anything to her, she'd make an awful row, so I just left her alone. One day, for some reason, she wanted Xiangling to keep her company. I said, 'You have Baochan already—what do you want Xiangling for? Besides, you never liked Xiangling. Why go looking for trouble?' She absolutely insisted. I had no choice, so I told Xiangling to go to her room. Poor Xiangling didn't dare disobey me and went, even though she was ill. Who would have thought that she treated Xiangling very well? I was actually pleased. Your elder sister found out and said, 'I'm afraid her intentions aren't good.' But I paid no attention. The first few days, when Xiangling was sick, she personally made soup for her. But Xiangling had no luck—just as she brought it to her, she burned her own hand and smashed the bowl. I thought she'd surely take it out on Xiangling, but she wasn't angry at all. She even swept up herself with a broom and mopped the floor, and the two of them got along as well as ever. Last night, she told Baochan to make two bowls of soup and said she'd drink it together with Xiangling. After a while, we heard the sound of feet kicking in her room. Baochan started shouting in a panic, and then Xiangling came out too, calling for people, supporting herself on the wall. I hurried over to look, and there was my daughter-in-law—blood streaming from her nose and eyes, rolling on the floor, clawing at her chest with both hands, kicking her feet wildly. It scared me half to death. When I asked her what was wrong, she couldn't say anything—just kept screaming. After carrying on for a while, she died. From the way she looked, I'd say she'd taken poison. Baochan then came crying and seized Xiangling, saying she had poisoned the mistress to death. I didn't think Xiangling was the sort of person to do such a thing—besides, she was so ill she could barely get up, how could she poison anyone? But Baochan insisted it was her. My dear Second Master, what was I to do? I had to harden my heart and tell the old women to tie up Xiangling and hand her over to Baochan, and then I locked the room from the outside. I kept watch with your younger sister all night, and only sent word to the mansion once the gates opened this morning. Second Master, you're a sensible man—what's the best way to handle this?"

Jia Lian said, "Does the Xia family know yet?"

Aunt Xue said, "We need to sort things out clearly before we can report it to them."

Jia Lian said, "In my view, this will have to go through the authorities before it can be settled. We naturally suspect Baochan, but others will ask why Baochan would poison her mistress—there's no answer for that either. If we put the blame on Xiangling, that could actually be made to stick."

Just then, some women from the Rong Mansion came in and said, "Our Second Mistress is here."

Although Jia Lian was her elder brother-in-law by marriage, he had known her since childhood, so he didn't withdraw. Baochai came in, saw her mother, and then saw Jia Lian. She went into the inner room and sat down with Baoqin. Aunt Xue told her the whole story again. Baochai said, "If we tie up Xiangling, aren't we saying that we believe Xiangling poisoned her? Mother, you said the soup was made by Baochan—then we should tie up Baochan and question her. At the same time, we should send someone to inform the Xia family, and also report this to the authorities."

Aunt Xue thought this made sense and turned to Jia Lian. Jia Lian said, "What Second Sister says is quite right. Reporting to the authorities will have to be done by me. I have connections in the Ministry of Punishments who can make sure things go smoothly during the inquest and questioning. But it might be difficult to tie up Baochan and release Xiangling."

Aunt Xue said, "It wasn't that I wanted to tie up Xiangling. I was afraid that Xiangling, being ill and distressed, might kill herself in desperation, and then we'd have another death on our hands. That's why I had her tied up and handed over to Baochan—it was just a precaution."

Jia Lian said, "Even so, we'd be helping Baochan. If we release one, we should release both; if we tie up one, we should tie up both. The three of them were all together. We just need to send someone to comfort Xiangling."

Aunt Xue then had them open the door and go in. Baochai assigned several of the women who had come with her to help tie up Baochan. They found Xiangling weeping as though she would die, while Baochan looked smug and triumphant. When Baochan saw that they meant to tie her up, she started shouting wildly. But the Rong Mansion women shouted her down, and she was tied up too. They left the door wide open so that people could see. By now, the messenger to the Xia family had already been sent.

The Xia family had not originally lived in the capital. But in recent years, their fortunes had declined, and missing their daughter, they had moved to the capital not long before. The father was already dead. There was only the mother, and a worthless adopted son who had squandered the entire family fortune. From time to time they would visit the Xue household. Jin Gui, being of a flighty and wanton nature, could hardly bear to keep to an empty chamber. What was more, she thought of Xue Ke every day, so that she found herself in a state of taking whatever came to hand, hunger making her careless of choice. Unfortunately, that blockhead among her cousins was a fool—though he had some glimmerings of sense, things had never quite come to a head between them. So Jin Gui would often go home and help him out with a little money. He had been hoping for Jin Gui's return these days, and when he saw someone from the Xue household arrive, his first thought was that they must have brought something again. But then he was told that the young lady here had poisoned herself and died, and he flew into a rage, howling and shrieking. Jin Gui's mother, hearing this, wailed and screamed even louder, crying, "A perfectly fine girl in your household—why did she take poison!" Clamoring and weeping, she set out with her son, not even waiting to hire a cart. The Xias were a trading family by origin, but now that they were penniless, what did they care about face and reputation? The son went ahead, and she followed with a decrepit old servant woman. Out on the street, weeping and sobbing, they hired a battered old cart and rushed to the Xue residence.

Once inside, they wasted no time on words. The mother screamed for her life, wailing one moment and shrieking the next, demanding someone pay with his life. At that time Jia Lian had gone to the Ministry of Justice to seek help from his connections. At home there was only Aunt Xue, Baochai, and Baoqin. They had never seen such a scene and were all too frightened to utter a sound. When they tried to reason with her, she would not listen. She only cried, "What good ever came to my girl in your house? She was beaten and scolded morning and evening. After all that commotion, you still wouldn't let husband and wife live together. You plotted to throw my son-in-law into prison, so they would never see each other again. You and your daughters enjoy yourselves, relying on your powerful relatives—that's your business—but you found her an eyesore besides, and had someone poison her to death, and now you claim she took poison herself! Why did she take poison!" With that, she lunged straight at Aunt Xue. Aunt Xue could only retreat, saying, "Madam, my dear kin by marriage, please go look at your daughter first, and ask Baochan. Then you can talk your crooked talk." Baochai and Baoqin, finding it impossible to come out and shield her with the Xia son in the house, could only fret inside. As luck would have it, Lady Wang had sent Zhou Rui's wife to look after things. The moment she entered, she saw an old woman pointing her finger in Aunt Xue's face, weeping and cursing. Zhou Rui's wife knew this must be Jin Gui's mother. She stepped forward and said, "You must be the lady, our kin by marriage? The eldest young lady poisoned herself. What has it to do with our Aunt Xue? There's no need to carry on like this." Jin Gui's mother demanded, "Who are you?" Aunt Xue, seeing that someone had arrived, grew a little bolder and said, "This is a relative from the Jia household." Jin Gui's mother said, "Who doesn't know? It's because you have powerful relatives to back you up that you could get our son-in-law thrown into prison. And now my girl is to die for nothing!" With that, she grabbed Aunt Xue, saying, "Just how did you do my daughter to death? Let me see her!" Zhou Rui's wife tried to pacify her, saying, "Go ahead and look. There's no need to pull and tug." And she gave her a shove. The Xia son came rushing in, crying out in protest, "You rely on the power of your great household to strike my mother!" With that, he hurled a chair at her, but missed. The servants inside attending to Baochai, hearing the commotion outside, hurried out, fearing Zhou Rui's wife might come to harm. They all surged forward, half reasoning with them and half shouting them down. But the Xia mother and son threw off all restraint and went completely berserk. "We know all about the power of the Rong Mansion!" they cried. "Our girl in your family is already dead. Now we don't care about our lives either!" With that, they lunged at Aunt Xue again, fighting for her life. Though there were many people on the ground, they could not hold them back. As the old saying goes, "When one man fights with no thought of his life, ten thousand cannot stand against him."

Just as the situation reached a critical moment, Jia Lian entered with seven or eight servants. Seeing the state of affairs, he ordered them to drag the Xia family's son out first, then said, "No more commonsense. Let us discuss this properly. Quickly set the house in order—the gentlemen from the Ministry of Punishments will be here shortly to examine the body." Jin Gui's mother was in the middle of her wild outburst when she noticed an official arrive, with several men shouting at the front, and the others standing at attention at once. Seeing this display, Jin Gui's mother did not know who this person at the Jia household was; she saw that her son had already been seized, and hearing that the Ministry of Punishments had been summoned to examine the body, her original plan had been to make a thorough mess of her daughter's corpse first and then go crying to the authorities. She had not expected them to have reported the matter to the officials already, and so her spirit weakened somewhat. Aunt Xue was already frightened senseless. It was Zhou Rui's wife who spoke up: "They arrived and didn't even go look at their young mistress—they started mistreating the Lady right away. We tried to reason with them, and then some wild man ran in and started brawling and cursing among the young ladies and mistresses. Is this not a complete disregard for the law!" Jia Lian said, "There's no point reasoning with them now. In a while we'll beat it out of them—ask them: men have their proper place, and inside are all the young ladies and mistresses. Besides, even his mother hadn't gone to see her daughter's body—so what was he barging in for if not to loot and plunder!" The servants, some threatening and some coaxing, managed to subdue them. Relying on their numbers, Zhou Rui's wife said, "Madam Xia, you don't understand the situation. Since you've come, you should find out the truth of the matter. Your daughter either took poison herself, or Baochai poisoned her mistress. How can you not ask for clarity, not even look at the body, and come here trying to blackmail us? Are we the sort to let a daughter-in-law die for nothing? We've tied up Baochai now, and because your daughter was determined to make trouble, we asked Xiangling to stay with her and they shared the same room. That's why both of them are being guarded there—we've been waiting for you to come and witness the Ministry's examination so that the truth can be established."

Jin Gui's mother, now isolated and without support, had no choice but to follow Zhou Rui's wife to her daughter's room. She saw the face covered in blackened blood, lying stiff and straight on the kang, and immediately began to wail. When Baochai saw that people from her household had arrived, she cried out, "Our young mistress treated Xiangling well, asked her to stay in the same room, and he took the opportunity to poison our mistress!" At that moment, all the Xue household people present shouted back together, "Nonsense! Yesterday the mistress drank the soup and that's what poisoned her—and you made that soup!" Baochai said, "I did make the soup, but after I brought it in I had something to attend to and left. I don't know what Xiangling put in it to poison her." Before Jin Gui's mother had even heard the whole thing, she lunged at Xiangling. The crowd held her back. Aunt Xue then said, "This was arsenic poisoning—there's absolutely no such thing in this household. Whether it was Xiangling or Baochai, someone must have bought it for them. When the Ministry questions them later, they won't be able to deny it. For now, let us lay the daughter-in-law out properly so that the officials can examine her." The old women servants came forward to lift and arrange the body. Baochai said, "Men have come in—you should check through the women's personal items." They found a crumpled paper packet under the kang mattress. Jin Gui's mother saw it and picked it up; she opened it and found nothing inside, so she tossed it aside. Baochai, seeing it, said, "Isn't this proof enough? I recognize this paper packet. A few days ago the mice were making a terrible racket, so our mistress went home and got it from her uncle. She brought it back and put it in her jewelry box. Xiangling must have seen it and used it to poison our mistress. If you don't believe me, check whether it's still in the jewelry box."

Jin Gui's mother then went where Baochai indicated and retrieved the box—it contained only a few silver hairpins. Aunt Xue said, "How come so much of the jewelry is missing?" Baochai had them open the chests and wardrobes—all empty. She said, "Sister-in-law, who took all these things? We'll have to ask Baochai." Jin Gui's mother's confidence had weakened considerably. Seeing Aunt Xue questioning Baochai, she said, "How would he know about the young lady's things?" Zhou Rui's wife said, "Dear mother-in-law, don't talk like that. I know that Miss Baochai followed the Grand Mistress every day—how can you say she doesn't know!" Since the questioning was pressing hard, Baochai could no longer make wild excuses and had no choice but to say, "The mistress always took things home herself—how could I stop her?" The crowd then said, "What a fine mother-in-law! You tricked her into giving up her things, and when you'd taken everything, you told her to kill herself so you could come here to blackmail us. Very well—when the officials come to examine the body, this is what we'll tell them." Baochai told the servants, "Go outside and tell Second Master Lian not to let the Xia family people get away."

Inside, Jin-gui's mother was thrown into a flurry of confusion and scolded Bao-chan: "You little wretch, stop wagging your tongue! When did our young lady ever take anything to our house?" Bao-chan retorted, "The things are a small matter now—the great matter is making someone pay with their life for the young lady." Bao-qin said, "If there are things, then there's someone to pay with their life. Quickly ask Brother Lian to confirm with the Xia family's son about the purchase of arsenic, so we can report it to the Board of Punishments." Jin-gui's mother, now frantic, said, "This Bao-chan must have run into a ghost to be raving like this. Our young lady never bought any arsenic. If you put it that way, then Bao-chan must have poisoned her." Bao-chan, beside herself with indignation, shouted, "Let others slander me if they want—why are you people slandering me too? Didn't you often say to the young lady, 'Don't put up with any grievance—make such a ruckus that their family is destroyed, then pack up the things and leave, and find you a better husband.' Was there such talk or wasn't there?" Before Jin-gui's mother could reply, Zhou Rui's wife interjected, "These were words spoken by someone in your own household—what's there to deny?" Jin-gui's mother gnashed her teeth in fury and cursed Bao-chan: "I've treated you well enough! Why do you use your words to bury me! When we see the magistrate, I'll say you poisoned our young lady." Bao-chan glared back, her eyes blazing: "Please, madam, release Xiang-ling. There's no need to harm an innocent person for nothing. When I see the magistrate, I'll have my own say."

Bao-chai caught the drift of this and had them release Bao-chan instead, saying: "You're naturally a straightforward person—why suffer being wronged for nothing? Just speak your piece openly, and everyone will understand, and the matter will be settled." Bao-chan, afraid of the suffering of an official interrogation, said: "Our mistress grumbled every day: 'A person like me—why did I have to be matched with this blind-eyed mother, not fit for the Second Young Master, but given instead to this muddle-headed fool. If I could spend even one day with the Second Young Master, I'd die content.' When she got to that point, she'd hate Xiang-ling. At first I paid no mind, but later when I saw her getting along well with Xiang-ling, I thought Xiang-ling must have taught her something—never did I imagine that yesterday's soup was meant with ill intent." Jin-gui's mother broke in: "What nonsense! If she wanted to poison Xiang-ling, why did she poison herself instead?" Bao-chai then asked, "Xiang-ling, did you drink soup yesterday?" Xiang-ling said, "The first few days I was so ill I couldn't lift my head. The mistress told me to drink soup—I didn't dare refuse. I was just struggling to get up when the soup had already been spilled, and it was the mistress who had a hard time cleaning it up—I felt terribly sorry about it. Yesterday when I was told to drink soup, I couldn't bring myself to do it, but since I had no choice and was just about to drink, I suddenly got dizzy. I saw Sister Bao-chan bring it in—I was just glad and had barely closed my eyes when the mistress herself drank some of the soup and told me to taste it, so I forced myself to drink as well." Before she could finish, Bao-chan said: "That's it—let me tell the truth. Yesterday the mistress told me to make two bowls of soup, saying she and Xiang-ling would share them. I was furious—Xiang-ling doesn't deserve to have me make soup for her! I deliberately put an extra handful of salt in one bowl and marked it secretly, intending it for Xiang-ling. Just as I brought them in, the mistress stopped me and sent me outside to have the young servants hire a carriage, saying she was going home today. I went out to arrange it, and when I came back I saw the saltier bowl of soup sitting before the mistress. I was afraid she'd find it too salty and scold me again. Just when I had no idea what to do, the mistress went to the back, and in a flash I switched the bowl meant for Xiang-ling over to her side. It was destined to be this way—the mistress came back, took the soup to Xiang-ling's bedside, and said, 'You really must taste it.' Xiang-ling didn't notice the salt either. Both of them finished their bowls. I was just laughing at Xiang-ling for having no palate—how was I to know that this damned mistress had meant to poison Xiang-ling and must have sprinkled arsenic on it while I wasn't looking, not knowing I'd switched the bowls? This is simply heaven's justice made manifest—she brought death upon herself." Everyone then thought it over from beginning to end, and it was truly without the slightest error. They released Xiang-ling and helped him back to bed.

To leave aside Xiang-ling's release—Jin-gui's mother, her heart guilty and the facts against her, still tried to argue and deny it. Aunt Xue volleyed words back and forth with her, demanding that her son pay with his life for Jin-gui's. Just as the uproar was at its height, Jia Lian shouted from outside: "No more talk—quickly get things in order, the lord from the Board of Punishments will be here any moment." At this point it was only the Xia mother and son who were in a panic—they realized they would surely come out the worse for it—and in desperation they pleaded with Aunt Xue: "Whatever the fault, in the end it was our dead daughter who behaved improperly—she brought this upon herself. But if the Board of Punishments conducts an inquest, it will reflect badly on your household's reputation. We beg you, madam, to put an end to this matter." Bao-chai said, "That won't do—a report has already been filed; how can it be stopped?" Zhou Rui's wife and the others, speaking now kindly and now firmly, urged: "If the matter is to be dropped, the only way is for Madam Xia herself to go out and block the inquest—then we'll keep our mouths shut about it." Jia Lian outside also intimidated her son, and he willingly went to the Board of Punishments to submit a written statement blocking the inquest. Everyone agreed. Aunt Xue ordered people to purchase a coffin and prepare the burial. But no more of this.

Meanwhile, Jia Yucun had been promoted to the post of Lord of the Capital Prefecture, concurrently managing revenue affairs. One day he left the capital to inspect land reclamation. Passing through Zhiji County, he arrived at Rapid-Flow Ford. Just as he was about to cross to the other side, he had to wait for his bearers, so he temporarily halted his sedan-chair. Near the village stood a small temple with crumbling walls. Several ancient pines protruded through them, their trunks gnarled and venerable. Yucun alighted and strolled into the temple. Inside, the gold leaf on the divine images had flattered off and the halls were askew. Nearby lay a broken stone tablet with illegible inscriptions. He was about to proceed to the rear hall when he noticed a thatched cottage sheltered beneath a green cypress. Inside sat an elderly Daoist with his eyes closed in meditation. When Yucun drew closer, the man's face seemed very familiar. He felt certain he had met him somewhere before, but for the moment could not recall where. His attendants were about to shout at the man, but Yucun stopped them and stepped forward slowly. "Old Daoist," he called.

The Daoist opened his eyes slightly and gave a faint smile. "What does Your Honor want?"

"I am on an inspection tour outside the capital," said Yucun. "Passing through this place, I saw you here at peace in your quiet cultivation. I imagine your Daoist powers must be profound, and I would venture to seek your instruction."

"The place you come from has its own location," replied the Daoist, "and the place you go to has its own direction."

Yucun sensed that this man was no ordinary person. He bowed deeply and asked, "Where did you cultivate, Old Daoist, to come and build this cottage here? What is the name of this temple? How many people are there in total? If you seek true cultivation, why not choose a famous mountain? If you seek to form karmic bonds with the world, why not settle in a busy thoroughfare?"

The Daoist said, "A gourd is good enough to dwell in—why must one seek out famous mountains to build one's retreat? The temple's name has long been hidden, though the broken tablet still remains. Form and shadow follow each other of their own accord—what need is there to solicit followers? Surely not like those who are 'a jade in a box awaiting a good price, a hairpin in a casket waiting for its hour to fly.'"

Yucun was a man of keen perception. At first hearing the word "gourd," and then catching the allusion to "jade and hairpin," he suddenly recalled the matter of Zhen Shiyin. He examined the Daoist once more. Seeing that his appearance was just as before, he dismissed his attendants and asked, "Could you be old Master Zhen?"

The Daoist replied with a composed smile, "What is real? What is false? You should know that the real is the false, and the false is the real."

When Yucun heard this play on the character jia, he was all the more certain. He bowed again and said, "Since your generous gift enabled me to reach the capital, I have enjoyed your protection, succeeded in the metropolitan examinations, and received this appointment in your native district. Only then did I learn that you, venerable sir, had transcended the mortal world and ascended to the realm of immortals. Though I have long yearned to trace you, I thought that a vulgar official mired in worldly dust could never again behold your immortal countenance. How fortunate that we should meet here! I beg you, venerable Immortal, to instruct one so ignorant. If you would not disdain to do so, my residence in the capital is very near. I would be able to offer you sustenance and receive your teaching day and night."

The Daoist stood up and returned his bow. "Beyond this meditation cushion, I know not what else exists in the universe. What Your Honor just said is entirely beyond my comprehension." With that, he sat down again.

Yucun's doubts returned. "If this is not Shiyin, how could his appearance and words be so similar? It has been nineteen years since we parted, yet his face is unchanged. He must have achieved great powers in his cultivation and refuses to reveal his former identity. But since I have met my benefactor, I cannot let this opportunity pass. It seems I cannot move him with thoughts of wealth and rank, to say nothing of ties to wife and daughters." Having deliberated thus, he said, "Since you, Immortal Master, refuse to reveal your past karma, how could I press the matter further?" He was about to bow again when an attendant entered and reported that the hour was growing late and urged him to cross the river quickly. Yucun, at a loss, heard the Daoist say, "Please cross to the other bank with all haste. We shall meet again. Delay, and the wind and waves will rise. If you do not disdain me, I shall await you at the ford another day." With that, he closed his eyes and resumed his meditation. Yucun had no choice but to take leave of the Daoist and quit the temple.

Just as he was about to cross, he saw a man come running at full speed. What this portends will be told in the next chapter.